- Date
- May 4, 1991, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Nacogdoches, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N43WMW. R. Mathis Midget Mustang
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910504014159A
- Case key
- 23215
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Power loss due to engine starter failure for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the takeoff on the 3,000 foot long sod strip, the airplane got airborne after about 1,000 feet of roll. At three to five feel AGL, the pilot experienced a loss of power and 'immediately the plane dropped to the runway and bounced several times off to the left.' The pilot pulled the nose up in an attempt to land straight ahead but impacted a tree with the left wing. Terrain impact occurred immediately thereafter. A replacement bendix had been installed on the engine three days prior to the accident. The starter bendix was found still engaged to the flywheel during the post accident investigation by FAA inspectors. Examination of the brush housing and armature revealed evidence of an overheating condition.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43WM
- Reported as
- W. R. Mathis Midget Mustang (MIDGET MUS)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- MB-1250
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William R. Mathis
- Registered owner
- William R. Mathis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · May 1, 1991 · 0 hours before
- Airport
- TE52 · Just Plane Fun Airpark
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 326 total · 136 in this make and model · 290 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.